5 Best Adidas Basketball Shoes in 2023

Among all the Adidas basketball shoes that we used in our games, it’s the Harden Vol. 7 that left the most lasting mark. Its amazing performance was due to several factors including but definitely not limited to (1) a close-to-the-ground setup, (2) amazing impact protection, and (3) impressive structural flexibility.

Our caliper in the lab measured the heel stack to be 27.5 mm high, making it thinner than the 30.0 mm average. Likewise, the forefoot stack is also thinner at 18.2 mm when the average is 21.6 mm. Having this setup allowed us to feel the ground more, enhancing our control over our movements.

Compared to the average, the midsole tooling of the Adidas Harden Vol. 7 felt a lot softer. Our HA durometer gave it a softness rating of 11.0 when the average goes as high as 26.6. The soft cushion kept us pain-free throughout our games.

It was also quite easy to move as the Harden Vol. 7 truly felt flexible. Our lab assessments only confirmed our initial observations. We specifically found that this shoe only needed 34.6N of force to bend at 90 degrees. The typical basketball shoe would need 40.9N. 

We would have loved this shoe more had it been lighter. At 16.44 ounces or 466 grams, it’s definitely heavier than average (14.22 oz or 403g) and we felt it during our runs.

The Adidas Dame 8 felt so comfortable that moment we stepped into it. The underfoot felt soft and was a total angel. This shoe also delivered so much stability that it greatly boosted our confidence. The shoe also delivered a solid protection against rollovers. These benefits erased all doubts that this is indeed the best shoe for comfort that Adidas has to offer.

Using our HA durometer in the lab, we learned that the midsole is way softer (20.3) than average (26.6). This meant that our foot got the pampering that it deserved during harsh landings and sharp cuts.

Using a caliper, we learned that the midsole platform is 119.0 mm wide at the forefoot while it’s 99.1 mm wide at the heel. These numbers add 5.7 mm and 8 mm to the average. The Dame 8 is really serious when it comes to stability.

We are glad that we never had to worry about ankle rolls while wearing the Adidas Dame 8. After testing its resistance through manual twists and other maneuvers in the lab, we gave this shoe a score of 4 out of 5 for rigidity. The rigid structure surely helped with stability. 

The Adidas Dame 8 is unfortunately not the most flexible hoop shoe there is. Our assessments revealed that it needed 41.9N of force to bend at 90 degrees, making it slightly more resistant than the average shoe which only needed 40.9N.

At $100 per pair (the average is $134), the Harden Stepback 3 from Adidas is surely not the cheapest out there. Still, we consider it as the most valuable budget pick among all shoes from the Three Stripes because of three things: (1) the amazing durability of its outsole, (2) effective impact protection, and (3) impressive stability.

The Dremel tests we did in the lab ended up like laughable jokes for the Harden Stepback 3’s outsole. Our Dremel drilling didn't even make a significant dent on it! The damage is only 0.2 mm deep, which is far better than the 1.1 mm of damage incurred by the typical hoop shoe.

When it comes to impact protection, this Harden shoe is not to be overlooked. Our feet were effectively kept free from pain during our games. Our lab assessments only confirmed the comfortable softness that we enjoyed on the court. Our HA durometer gave the midsole a rating of 21.6 when the average is as high as 26.6.  

We attribute the stability that we enjoyed to this shoe’s amazingly wide platform. Using a caliper, we learned that the platform is 117.0 mm wide at the forefoot while it’s 96.4 wide at the heel. These numbers mean that, compared to the average, the platform is 3.7 mm and 5.3 mm wider.

Players who love well-ventilated shoes should stay away from the Harden Stepback 3, though. It only got a score of 2 over 5 in our in-lab breathability tests.

When it comes to impact protection, the Trae Young 2 reigns supreme over other basketball shoes from Adidas. Our HA durometer gave the shoe’s midsole a rating of 11.5, making it much much softer than the average hoop shoes that gets a 26.6. Needless to say, this shoe worked well in keeping our steps completely pain-free. Aside from the cushioning, we also loved the shoe’s upper durability and structural flexibility.

Our Dremel drilling on the toebox barely left a mark. Hence, we did not hesitate to give this shoe a perfect 5 for upper durability. Players who want a shoe that lasts should consider this pick.

Accommodating the natural flexions of our feet was also not a problem for the Adidas Trae Young 2. Our digital force gauge reported that we only needed to exert this 31.4N of force to bend this shoe at 90 degrees. This requirement is far lower than the 40.9N needed by the average hoop shoe.

Wide-footers are clearly not the Trae Young 2’s target market. The widest part of the toebox is only 92.6 mm, making it far narrower than the 101.0 mm average.

We are sure that the DON Issue #4 is the best for guards in Adidas’s lineup because of its three standout benefits: a well-balanced cushioning system, twist-resistant base, and an excellently flexible construction. These benefits allowed us to be more agile on the court.

In the lab, we assessed the midsole’s softness using an HA durometer. This device gave the cushion a 27.3, which is just around the 26.6 average. This setup allowed us to experience a good blend of impact protection and energizing stiffness. 

Speaking of stiffness, the base was also rigid enough to ward off any possibility of twisting. After giving the shoe a good manual twist in the lab, we concluded that its torsional rigidity is deserving of a perfect 5. This benefit allowed us to go faster with confidence.

Despite the twist-resistant base, the shoe still managed to have a lot of linear flexibility. Compared to the average basketball shoe that needs 40.9N of force to bend at 90 degrees, this shoe is much more flexible. It needs only 29.9N to bend at the same angle.

Ventilation is a problem, we must say. We could only give it a disappointing 1 out of 5 for breathability after smoke couldn’t pass through its upper material easily during our lab assessment.